Scaffold and scaffold construction element



Feb. 15, 1949. J Q'DQ'NNELL 2,461,762

SCAFFOLD AND SCAFFOLD CONSTRUCTION ELEMENT v Filed Feb. 14, 1946 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. JOH/VR. 0 'DONNEL L.

Feb. I J R, O'DQNNELL SCAFFOLD AND SCAFFOLD CONSTRUCTION ELEMENT Filed Feb. 14, 1946 v 2 Shets-Sheet '2 655 I N V EN TOR.

JOH/VB. O'DO/V/VEL 1.

Patented Feb. 15, 1949 UNITED STATES. FATENT. OFFICE sonrrotn 'ANDTSCAFFOLDT CONSTRUCTION" ELEMENT John B. ODonnell, Brooklyn; N. Y.:

ApplicationFebruaryll, 1946, Serial No; 647,614

(crem -2 This invention relates to scafiolds and to elements for use in constructing scaffolds, and provides improvements therein.

The-invention relates to the typeof scafiold comprising vertical columns and lateral elements or stringers joined by clamping elements, the columns and stringers usually having 'theformof pipes, and provides a stronger and better braced scafiold of this type. The invention provides scafiolds in which columns of difierent strength; required for different heights, are constituted" by pipe'all' of one diameter; and in. which one sizeof clamp is used, thus simplifying or. eliminating variety of pipe and clamps to be stacked by the scaffold creator. and simplifying the engineering or logistical work in preparing for the job of erecting a scaffold. The invention provides improved strength and. bracing in eliminating a cantilever bearing of loads on the columns, and enables diagonal bracing rods or pipeto be fastened at the point orv line of intersection. between the columns and the lateral elements, or stringers; and it furthermore enables lateral elements or stringers running at right angles to other lateral elements or stringers to be fastened at the same level or line of intersection. The invention fur ther enables a scafiold. having the usualcolumns'; laterals and diagonals to be constructed'with; a less number of clamping elements than are used with scafioldscommonly in use,andf this in turn reducesthe dead-weight load on the columns.

The invention further provides novelelamping. elements, having structural features by which, in combination with the columns and laterals, or columns, laterals and diagonals, the hereinbefore mentioned advantages are obtained ina scaffold.

Embodiments of the'invention are illustrated in the'accompanying drawings.

Fig. 1 illustrates a column constructed according to the present invention.

Fig. 2 illustrates a scafiold in front elevation.

Fig. 3 is a view in side elevation of the scaffold shown in Fig. 2. v

Fig. 4 is a view in side elevation showing. in greater detail the scaffold and clamping elements at the junction point or line between the columns, laterals and diagonals. P

Fig. 5 is a view in. front elevation of the parts shown in Fig. 4.

Fig dis a side view of a, clamp in association with a column and a lateral.

Fig. 71's a top plan view of the 6. a

Fig. 8 is aviewsimilar to Fig. 6 showing, another embodiment of the clamp.

parts shown in 11. Claims.

Referrin'gdo" said drawings; numerals 'lll', H1 H1 designate" columnelement's, ordinarily in the form of pipe. In the description which follows and in theciaims; the Word pipe comprehends other" suitable forms of rod-like elements; -'Num'eral it designates a longitudinal lateral element. Numeral l6 designate's'a transverse'lateral element" and numeral 1 8 designates a diagonal ele= ment," these lateral and diagonal elements also usually being in the form of pipe; I

Numeral 2t designates a clamping element and numeral 251a designates another embodiment thereof; The clamp, comprises a double recessed jaw 22'having1a recess 26, whichmay be semicircular as shown, to receive'about half the aireumference of a pipe M, and a second recess'ilfi'; running at right anglesto recess, and'this'also may be of semi-circular shape, to'receive half the circumference or a pipe. Hinged to the double recessed jaw are two singlerecesse'd" jaws 3'0 and 32, the hingesbeing indicated'by the numerals 34' and 35'. The" recess in jaw 31!,designate'd by numeral Slandthe recess in jaw 32 designated by the numeral 38 are similar to there'c'ess'es 24"and 260i double recessed jaw '22, and. the re'cessesZA andSl', and 2t and 38 togethersubstantially' em' brace a pipe positioned within the closedjaws. Suitable means-Ml are provided for holding" the jawsinclo'se positionand drawing them" together around a pipe, so as to firmly clamp the pip'ebe; tween the" jaws. The fastening means tilmay be the usual typecomprising a threadedbolt '42'piv otall'y 'attaeh'e'd' to one jaw, extending through a bifurcated ear' l i'on the opposite jaw, and having a nut oat'th'e" endwliich' projects. through the; ear Ml. One or'b'oth of the jaws t il iiz'are provided with a'plinthor' base 5'9,and attached: to one or both. of 'the'jaws 3i)"; 3'2, seatedi'on the'base o1" plinth-5'0, is a jaw 'Ilcie'jawv 55hasta base or'plinth' 51' similar to the base o'r plinth 58;. and the two'ba ses' or plinth's' 553i 5 are parallel with oneanothen. The jaws 30' and 55am joinediby suitable means of a character which enables the jaw 55 to be angularly adjustedwith-relation to the jaw 38; and may also be of a character to'loind the two jaws 2e and 55firmll 1 together in anyone of'the. angularly a'dijustedpositionsof the-jaw 55,. Su'cha mean'smay be a threaded stud 59'fi'tting. in a counter-sunk hole in; one of l the jaws,. rand ene gagingthreads in theoppositejaw. Hinged to the jaw 55",'asrindicated at 63;. is another recessed jaw 65.1 The-recesses 56;.5'6ih th'eljawsfiiand 65 are similar to the recesses in thezother jaws,..recesses Zlian'd 3.! forexample, andlthe jawsfio, EE' -may be held together andclamped against a pipe seated within the recesses, by a fastening means 40 similar to that previously described. The jaw 65 may be provided with a base or plinth i against which described in reference thereto, except that the jaws 30 and 55 are made integrally, and formed as a double recessed part 30a, the two recesses 31 and 56 being ordinarily disposed at right angles to one another. The recesses 31 and 55 may be disposed at any other angle.

In constructing a high scaffold, greater strength of column is required at the bottom than at the top. According to the present invention, in constructing a high column, instead of using a larger diameter pipe, two (or more) pipes of a uniform diameter used throughout the job, are associated. In the case, for example, of two pipes being used for the lower part of the column, the two pipes I0, I0 are fastened together by a clamp 40, one pipe being clamped by the jaws 22, 32 and the other pipe being clamped by the jaws 55, 65 (or 30a, 65) A longitudinal lateral (of the same size as the column pipes Ill, HP) is fastened between the column pipes I0, I0 being clamped by the jaws 22, 30 (or 22, 30a). In this Way the longitudinal laterals 14 are supported between and by each of the column pipes I0, I0 and thereby a cantilever support from one column pipe is avoided. Moreover, the column stability of a column composed of two pipes I0, I5 held together by clamps 40 is greater than that in a column made up of one pipe of a strength equal to the two pipes 10, I0 The invention also provides for the transverse laterals l6 being attached to the columns in line with the intersection of the columns and longitudinal laterals l4. To this end the transverse laterals l6 are provided with flange plates 8|, and these flange plates are attached to the bases or plinths 5|! of clamps 40 fastened to the columns at front and back of the scaffold. The flange plates 8| may be fastened to the bases or plinths 50 of the jaws 32 (or it may be the jaw 65) by threaded stud 19 joining the jaw and the flange plate 8|. By this means of attaching the transverse laterals to the columns through a clamp already used for attaching the column. to a longitudinal lateral, greater stability of the scaffold is obtained, and there is also a saving of clamps, inasmuch as in ordinary practice, a second clamp is used for attaching the transverse lateral to the column, the point on the column being somewhat below or above the clamp used for attaching the longitudinal lateral to the column.

Where diagonal bracing elements are used, as is generally the case, these may be fastened by the jaws 55, 65 where the column consists of a single pipe, and in this way, an attachment to the column in the line of intersection-between the column and the longitudinal lateral is obtained, and thereby also is obtained a firmer and better braced structure. Where the jaws 55, 65 of clamp 40 are used for clamping together two pipes l0, I0 for forming the column, the diagonals may be attached to a spider 11, which latter spider is fastened on the base or plinth of the jaw 65, by fastening means such as a 4 threaded stud 19, and thereby is also secured an attachment of the diagonals to the column at the line of intersection between the column and the longitudinal laterals. Moreover, the spider Tl may be fastened to the jaw part 30, replacing the jaw parts 55, 65 attached to the jaw part 30.

From the foregoing it will be seen that the diagonals, longitudinal laterals and transverse laterals may be attached to the column by means of a single clamping element, whereas according to usual practice three or more clamps would be "required to accomplish the same purpose. Moreover, the pipes used for columns, laterals and ,diagonals may be all of the same diameter, and

the clamps may all be of the same diameter, and the clamps may all be of the same size and construction, thereby very greatly simplifying the stocking of materials and the supply of materials for scaffold erection. The transverse lateral I6 and two clamps 20, one at each end, may be constructed, or pre-assembled, as a unit, and assembling time thereby saved.

What is claimed is:

' 1. A scaffold comprising columns, laterals and clamps, said columns being constituted by pipes all of the same diameter, the lower part of the column being of greater strength than the upper part and being constituted by a plurality of said pipes which are parallel and adjacent, clamps fastening the plural column pipe together, a lateral fastened between two of the parallel adjacent column pipes fastened by the clamp which also fastens together the column pipes and another lateral fastened at each end to the same clamps of opposite columns which fasten the other lateral and two parallel adjacent pipes of a column.

2. A scaffold comprising columns, laterals and clamps, said columns being constituted by pipes 40 all of the same diameter, the lower part of the column being of greater strength than the upper part and being constituted by a plurality of said pipes which are parallel and adjacent, clamps fastening the plural column pipe together, a lateral fastened between two of the column pipes fastened by the clamp which also fastens to-' gether the parallel adjacent column pipes, and another lateral fastened at each end to the same clamps of opposite columns which fasten the other lateral and two parallel adjacent pipes of a column, and diagonals fastened to said clamps which fasten together two parallel adjacent pipes of a column, and the laterals.

3. A clamp for scaffold construction, comprising a recessed jaw andtwo recessed single jaws hinged to said double jaw for clamping two pipes, one of said recessed single jaws being hinged at a right angle to the other, means for fastening the jaws together in clamping engagement with pipes and means on one of the single jaws for fastening a lateral thereto in line with a line passing perpendicularly through the axes of the recesses in each of said jaws.

4. A clamp for scaffold construction, comprising a plurality of hinged recessed jaws for clamping pipes, two of said recessed jaws being hinged at a right angle to one another and one being a single jaw, means for fastening the jaws together in clamping engagement with pipes, means on the single jaw for fastening a lateral thereto in line with a line passing perpendicularly through the axes of the recesses in each of said jaws.

jaws hinged at a right angle to one another, means for fastening the jaws'tcgether in clamping engagement with pipes, means on one of the single jaws for fastening a lateral thereto in line with a line passing perpendicularly through the axes of the recesses in each of said jaws, and means on another of said jaws for fastening diagonals thereto.

6. A clamp for scaffold construction comprising a recessed intermediate double jaw and two recessed single jaws hinged thereto, one of said single jaws having a plinth or base, a recessed jaw, with a complementary jaw, attached to said plinth, and movable to position the recess therein at any desired angle to the recesses in the other pairs of jaws, and means for fastening the jaws together in clamping engagement with pipe.

7. A clamp according to claim 6, wherein said other single jaw has a plinth or base, and means for fastening an attaching element thereto.

8. A clamp for scafiold construction comprising two hinged recessed intermediate solid double jaws with the pipe recesses of each double jaw at right angles to one another and closely adja cent, and two recessed single jaws, one hinged to each of said double jaws with pipe recesses parallel to the adjacent recesses of a double jaw, and means for fastening the jaws together in clamping engagement with pipe.

9. A clamp for scafiold construction comprising two hinged recessed intermediate solid double jaws with the pipe recesses of each double jaw at right angles to one another and closely adjacent, and two recessed single jaws, one hinged to each of said double jaws with pine recesses parallel to the adjacent recesses of a double jaw, and means for fastening the jaws together in clamping engagement with pipe, said single jaws having plinths or bases thereon, and means for fastening attaching elements on said plinths.

10. A plank supporting lateral having clamps attached to each end thereof, each clamp consisting of one double jaw having recesses therein tached, together with the complementary jaws,

around columns at opposite ends of said lateral, to clamp and plumb the columns.

11. A clamp for scaffold construction, for clamping three pipes, said clamp comprising a double jaw having recesses therein at right angles 9 umber at right angles to one another, and two single jaws having recesses parallel to the recesses adto one another, and two single jaws hinged to said double jaw at right angles to one another and having recesses in each parallel to the recess of the double jaw adjacent thereto, and two recessed single jaws, one of which is connected to one of the single jaws connected to the double jaw.

JOHN R. ODONNELL.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Name Date Knopfe June 5, 1900 Zahniser et a1 July 12, 1910 Maher Feb. 16, 1932 Burt Oct. 4, 1932 Kaplan July 9, 1935 Clark Dec. 23, 1941 Roney et a1 Jan. 19, 1943 Causey Apr. 13, 1943 Kemner May 7, 1946 FOREIGN PATENTS Country Date Germany Oct. 19, 1887 Great Britain Sept. 23, 1935 Germany June 14, 1934 Italy Oct. 4, 1930 Number 

